“I got a bone to pick with Cincy”: Ravens rookie Devontez Walker highlights why he has Bengals in his sights
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker is ready to begin his rookie year in the NFL. The rookie has his own reason for buying into the decades-old division rivalry between Baltimore and the Cincinnati Bengals.
On the Ravens’ podcast, "The Lounge," Walker shared reasons for his dislike for the Cincinnati Bengals.
“I got a bone to pick with Cincy," Walker said. "I thought that’s where I was going, but they took another receiver at that spot."
Walker was picked 113th by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 NFL draft. The receiver, known for his speed, indicated that he should have been picked by the Bengals in place of Jermaine Burton in the third round
“Jermaine Burton. Solid player. Cincinnati, that game is going to get rough,” he said. [30:50 - 30:58]
Devontez Walker demonstrated athleticism through his speed and explosiveness at the NFL combine, finishing with the fifth highest time at the 40-yard dash, in 4.36 seconds.
Meanwhile, Jermaine Burton ran his 40-yard dash at 4.45 seconds but understands the technical aspects of the game better. As such, in this year’s draft class, Burton scored the highest grade as a deep threat.
Burton completed his four years in college, two at Georgia and then two at Alabama, while Walker declared himself for the draft after two years. Both young wide receivers could have long NFL careers ahead of them and will have ample opportunities to prove themselves.
Although the AFC North rivalry between the Bengals and the Ravens is relatively new, the addition of Devontez Walker should add another feather to its cap.
When will Devontez Walker face off against the Bengals?
The Bengals and the Ravens have faced off 57 times, with the Bengals leading the series 30-27. Moreover, the Bengals won the only postseason meeting in the 2022–23 Wild Card Round game. The divisional rivals will face each other twice this season.
The Ravens travel to Paycor Stadium in Week 5 to challenge the Bengals. They meet again in Baltimore in Week 10.